In-Stream and Habitat Restoration

The HCRCD works to maintain and improve diverse working landscapes and soil health to minimize erosion for the benefit of agricultural production, wildlife and aquatic habitat﻿ through restoration in the form of bank stabilization, riparian planting, and habitat enhancement.﻿﻿

Habitat Restoration Projects

White Slough Wetland Enhancement Project-The White Slough Unit (WSU) of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) provides one of the few remaining opportunities to regain lost salt marsh around Humboldt Bay. The WSU includes approximately ten acres of un-diked wetlands, 65 acres of diked wetlands consisting primarily of brackish marsh (60 acres), as well as small areas of freshwater marsh, and riparian habitat. Diked sections are severely eroded and expected to fail. Because the area has subsided, dike failure would result in a conversion of brackish marsh to mudflat, and would expose the Tompkins Hill Road-Highway 101 Interchange, which provides access to the College of the Redwoods, to increased threat of flooding. The threat of dike failure is exacerbated by ongoing sea level rise.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation-Through this provides funding for outreach, planning and technical assistance services to private landowners to improve salmonid habitat throughout the Eel River Delta and to control Spartina in the Eel River Delta and Humboldt Bay areas

Natural Resource Conservation Service Wetland Reserve Program-This agreement provides funding to accelerate the delivery and implementation of the Wetlands Reserve Program by working cooperatively with NRCS. The District and NRCS have a common objective of helping to bring about the creation, enhancement and restoration of wetlands to improve wildlife habitat and meet the goals of the landowner through implementation of WRP﻿.

Natural Resource Conservation Service Water Quality Initiative-Through this agreement, the RCD is working with Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS) to provide: outreach and technical assistance, planning and design services to producers to improve salmonid habitat and water quality in the Lower Eel River Watershed. Work with NRCS to develop and implements conservation plans, coordinate and assist with monitoring of EQIP/WQI projects and coordinate with NRCS/EPA for water sampling﻿

US Fish and Wildlife Service Habitat Restoration on Private Land of the Lower Eel River-In cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), RCD and a private landowner in the Lower Eel River area, a mutually agreeable habitat restoration project will be developed and implemented.

Lower Eel River Watershed Restoration on Howe and Price Creek-With funding from the California Coastal Conservancy, HCRCD worked in cooperation with landowners of the Grandy Ranch and Hackett Timber and Livestock to implement habitat restoration and protection projects on Price Creek Ranch and Howe Creek Ranch, two adjacent ranch properties. Conservancy funds were utilized to improve habitat for steelhead trout and Coho and Chinook salmon in these Lower Eel River tributaries. Project treatments included installing large wood and boulder in-stream structures to provide cover, building scour pools, protecting stream banks from erosion, planting over 59 acres with maple and redwood seedlings and cottonwood sprigs, and installing cattle-exclusion fence on Howe Creek.﻿

In-Stream Restoration Projects

Mad River Weir Removal-A cooperative partnership between multiple agencies will facilitate the removal of a failed weir in the Lower Mad River. The failed weir is a barrier to fish passage and poses a danger to recreational users.﻿